life There’s something for everyone as the 35th annual Rivertown Days is this week. There’s music, athletic tournaments, special sales, a carnival, parade and a fireworks show, to name a few. In all, it promises to be a busy weekend in Hastings.
Rivertown Days buttons are required to gain entry to the...
Hastings, 55033

Hastings Minnesota 745 Spiral Boulevard 55033

2014-07-17 08:40:20

There’s something for everyone as the 35th annual Rivertown Days is this week. There’s music, athletic tournaments, special sales, a carnival, parade and a fireworks show, to name a few. In all, it promises to be a busy weekend in Hastings.

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Rivertown Days buttons are required to gain entry to the riverfront area and are available to purchase at a number of area businesses and the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce. They are $3 before the festival and $5 the days of the festival.

Parade is set for noon on Sunday

It has become part of the tradition for the annual Rivertown Days festival. For many, it is also one of the most anticipated events.

This year’s Rivertown Days parade begins at noon Sunday, July 20 and includes about 100 units.

The route is the same as in previous years – 10th and Ramsey streets, heading north on Ramsey Street to Second Street. At Second Street, the parade will go west through the downtown areas and under the bridge to Eddy Street. From there, it proceeds south and ends at Fourth Street – before Wilson Park.

The Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce coordinates the festival and will be paying tribute to the people who founded the event 35 years ago.

“This is the 35th Rivertown Days and we are honoring the founders,” chamber president Michelle Jacobs said. They include Ron Toppin, Ken LaCroix, Glenda Schnirring, Mary Fasbender, Rita Doffing and Claire Mathews. All are participating, except for Mathews, who has a family commitment.

In addition, there will be bands, floats, drum lines, the Shriners, police and fire vehicles, business vehicles and, yes, politicians – it is an election year, after all.

Jacobs notes that it is the fees generated from the politicians’ appearance that helps to pay for the marching bands each year.

Bands this year include the Hastings High School Marching Bands, the Alumni Band and the River Valley Band. The Shriners are expected to offer clowns, its scooters and motorcycles for crowd enjoyment. A unicycle club will be part of the parade, too.

Cash prizes will be awarded for Best Use of Theme, Best Youth entry, and Best Crowd pleaser. The winners will be announced on the chamber website Monday morning.

While the parade is a popular draw for the community and others, it will not be the only event going on during this time. Entertainment will still be under way along the riverfront. Access to that area and to the arts and crafts area in Levee Park will be maintained.

Parade participants can ride the shuttle from Westview Center and the Smead Manufacturing Co. lots to 10th and Ramsey to get to their entry. Return trips will be provided at the end of the route.

Those attending the parade are encouraged to pick up their trash at its conclusion. Tennis Sanitation will be handling that detail, but the public’s help is needed, said Jacobs.